This year’s theme is “Giving Back To The Everglades”, and judging from the extensive programming of speakers, presentations, workshops, live entertainment, and a hands-on Everglades cleanup, both the quote and the theme apply perfectly. More specifically, the Summer Symposium’s focus will cover Everglades ecology, spirituality, activist reports on environmental crises, art, and community involvement.
The 2016 iteration will feature guest speakers including:
ELECTED OFFICIALS:Florida State Senator
Dwight Bullard,
Florida State Representative
Mark S. Pafford,
Miami-Dade County Commissioner
Daniella Levine Cava,
VOICES OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE:Betty L. Osceola from the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida,
Samuel Tommie from the Seminole Tribe of Florida,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS & NGOsAuthor & Ecologist
Thomas E. Lodge, Ph.D.,
Laura Reynolds from Conservation Concepts,
George Cavros from Southern Alliance for Clean Energy,
Capt. Mike Conner from
BullSugar.org,
Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Norris from Medicine Signs Spiritual Center,
Rafel Lemus, MD, from Lemus Natural Medicine,
a representative from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida,
AND MANY OTHER SPEAKERS.
In addition, there will be a prayer room, physical and digital art displays, workshops, and live entertainment. For the full schedule, go to
www.lovetheeverglades.org/summer-symposium-2016.html.
“The Love the Everglades Movement offers a chance for people from all walks of life to answer the call of the Everglades. We honor the water that flows through our lives, our bodies and touches all aspects of the Circle of Life,” says Cypress. “This is the moment for working together, respecting each other and caring for a unique ecology that we are a part of.”
“The Summer Symposium provides an opportunity for our community to come together in solidarity for the Everglades and our natural resources,” says
Flash, member of the LTEM Coordination Circle. “We are working to create change with sustainable policies that respect the water and our future.”
By the end of the symposium, the group intends to solidify actionable strategies to defeat Amendment 1 in November, shut down seismic testing in the Big Cypress National Preserve, create several proposals for art projects, and empower the community with resources to give back to the River of Grass.
Free table space is available to community organizations;
sponsorship packages are now available. The event is free and open to the public; an accompanying benefit concert will take place at
Gramps in Wynwood during September. Donations are being accepted via check, or online at:
www.gofundme.com/lovetheeverglades.
For more details, visit
www.LoveTheEverglades.org.
SS16 Day 1 Event page -
https://www.facebook.com/events/799073323562322/SS16 Day 2 Event page -
https://www.facebook.com/events/262164700824279/
